Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-05-31
A REFORMED GAMBLER.
Evangelist Forrest and HIS Peeuii"i
WORT in san Francisco.

WOrh III san
Evangelist Ned Forests broadcloth
coat had not speck OF dust upon H.
his white fonr-,n-hand scarf was adj
iustcd to Getty around his 'cut-my-
chin" collar, and his hair was banged
and plastercd as accurately as vaseiine
would stick it. when he began opera
lions on the souls of his very respect
able audience at the Central Methodist
Church last evening. The reformed
sbort-card player was the central bril-
liant in setting of smart young wom-
en- who sang moro or less, and hve
pentlemen of various degrees OF thick
ness, who formed the male portion OF
the choir The exhorter had the pull
pit moved to one side so as to leave
the platform free for his exasperated
motions. The aud ;ence was composed
mainly of the male sex. the falrer half
of creation being ZOO much mystiied
by the reformed gamblers technical
slang to appreciate his sallies, while
the men present affected the bald head
by large majority. Forests verna-
cular frequently brought down the
house, his illusions to 'full hands"
and straight Pushes" 'bluiiing. "
"straddles," "antes," and "stocked
deals being thoroughly enjoyed and
apparently appreciated. A particu-
larly unique feature of the series OF
services is the absence of the collection
plate.
Out of regard for the convention
alities, but evidently for no other rea-
son, Forrest selected text, Saved by
Hope" which he announced was to be
found in eighth Romans, Oath verse,
and paid no further attention to.
The services were opened by sing
ing, which he started with the injunc-
ton to the young lady in frizzes. who
played the organ, to ''let her go!" And
she did "let her co. and the choir
.'let her CO." aud there was some
noise there or Whereabouts.
"Glad to SEQ so many of the boys
here tonight" began the speaker II
feel that God called me unto the work
for the boys. When man of my age
has spent fifteen years going down
to hell and has been stopped he owes a
debt of gratitude. That what / owe,
and want to cash in.
Tonight l am not gong to talk to
cemeteries. God only knows the Sc
crets of the graveyartls. Scores that
lay out in Lone Mountain refused the
Lord. When the cask is screwed down
there is no chance for q fellow. When
the crepe is hanged before he door you
can't cash your checks. Twice in my
life / have laid at deaths door, once
with a knife wound and once with 8
"A that left hole in my neck can
put my finger into
1.-The revivalst described how par
son in sermon over a drunkard' s body
promis ed the wife and mother ant
daughter to meet him in heaven"
mo, he went to hell" cried the
evangelist. "A gambler don't want te
go to heaven. He'd have no one tc
play game with"
The exhorter here fell into lachry
nose condition, during which he dealt il
considerable sentiment, and related tn,
story of his own convention while deal
ing faro. He claimed TO have been too
wicked for description, too low for the
imagination to grasp, and took huge
satisfaction in the picture of depravit
which he presented,
But" he shouted, shifting the pul
pit mighty thwack, .tTve found
game that pays. I've found han
that wins every hour of my life; it.
hand no man can hold over, no maj
can bluff me on. 1t is the hand Go
dealt to me, and won't lay it down I'm
til lay it down at the throne of Cod.
The converted gambler then depicte
a girl initiated into game of cards il
home, and year later staggering III
the street.
Then, somewhat irrelevantly, he rs
serted: "a gambler has heart as bi
as Il church. God bless and have mere
on the gamblers of San Francisco. TIL
only time 1 ever held sure, good han
that couldn't be done up hold now.
"A friend of mine helped plant il
Leadville. There was a man who hel
as big roll as any man in Frisco
found him lying dying from consump
ton. 1 don't want to squeal at tn
tail end of my life.' he said Tina
isn't squeal ng,' l said. So l found
parson and set him to work on hin
We all got down on our knees, an
while we prayed he gasped, God,
there's any such thing as mercy fo
such q one as me, give it ter me-
MEN say they dom |. Ike such a thin
as hell. Well, believe in II straight
regular, A No. hell. l know felle
who was an intidel who dropped off
boat into the yer. They got him u
and done the barrel act on h m, an
he was fixed, when the first thing h
says was, 'Thank Godm though
you didn't believe in God?' said due
who stood by that's all right sal
the Teller they tished up. Infidel ty
J a good enough thing on top of the boa
: but a pretty poor thing to 60 down OIL